It was a classic case of so close, yet so far for Sourav Ganguly’s Pretoria Capitals in the recently concluded SA20 season. After finishing atop the league stage, the Capitals’ title charge fizzled out when they were comprehensively outplayed by SunRisers Eastern Cape, the most successful side in the tournament’s short history.

Despite the disappointing end, SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith reserved glowing praise for Ganguly, who endured a bittersweet first season in charge of the Pretoria-based franchise. Smith credited the former India captain with restoring belief and a winning mindset to a side that had endured back-to-back forgettable campaigns in 2024 and 2025.

“We have seen the impact of having outstanding people and leaders around the game. Dada is one of the best captains and obviously an icon in India. He brings leadership across the board, and I was really happy to see that things went well for him,” Smith said during an interaction facilitated by SA20.

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Smith acknowledged Ganguly’s disappointment at falling short of the title but highlighted his role in reshaping the squad and driving consistency throughout the tournament.

“I know he is supremely disappointed about not being able to get over the line at the end, but he did well in the recruitment phase and throughout the tournament. After two poor seasons from the Capitals, it was a big one for them,” Smith added.

The former South Africa captain also expressed hope that Ganguly would continue with the franchise next season. “I know he is a very proud and competitive man. I’m sure he is disappointed, but we would love to have him back next year.”

For Ganguly, however, the near-miss only deepened a familiar sense of heartbreak on South African soil. As India’s captain, he suffered a crushing defeat in the 2003 ODI World Cup final, and more than two decades later, another campaign ended without silverware, this time as the first Indian head coach of an overseas T20 franchise.

The pattern extends beyond SA20. Ganguly’s stint as Team Director with the Delhi Capitals has also seen the franchise fall short in finals across both the IPL and the WPL, reinforcing a frustrating trend of getting close but never quite crossing the finish line.